Mature adrenomedullin concentrations in plasma during pregnancy

K Hoshimoto, M Hayashi, T Ohkura - The Journal of Maternal-Fetal …, 2002 - Taylor & Francis
K Hoshimoto, M Hayashi, T Ohkura
The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 2002Taylor & Francis
Objective: Adrenomedullin is a novel peptide that exerts a potent, dose-dependent and long-
lasting hypotensive effect. In human plasma, adrenomedullin consists of two molecular
forms: mature and immature. Immature adrenomedullin is much less bioactive than mature
adrenomedullin. Although a gradual increase in plasma adrenomedullin has been
reportedly observed as pregnancy progressed, mature adrenomedullin has not been
examined. The aim of this study was to elucidate the plasma level of mature adrenomedullin …
Objective
Adrenomedullin is a novel peptide that exerts a potent, dose-dependent and long-lasting hypotensive effect. In human plasma, adrenomedullin consists of two molecular forms: mature and immature. Immature adrenomedullin is much less bioactive than mature adrenomedullin. Although a gradual increase in plasma adrenomedullin has been reportedly observed as pregnancy progressed, mature adrenomedullin has not been examined. The aim of this study was to elucidate the plasma level of mature adrenomedullin in pregnant women.
Methods
We measured the concentrations of mature adrenomedullin in ten pregnant women in the first trimester, ten pregnant women in the third trimester, and ten non-pregnant controls with the immunoradiometric assay.
Results
The mean concentration of mature adrenomedullin was significantly increased in pregnant women in the first trimester compared to age-matched non-pregnant subjects (p < 0.05). The mean concentration of mature adrenomedullin was significantly increased in pregnant women in the third trimester compared with pregnant women in the first trimester (p < 0.005).
Conclusion
Our study demonstrated that concentrations of mature adrenomedullin were elevated in pregnant women compared with non-pregnant women and its concentration in the third trimester was significantly higher than that in the first trimester.
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